NSERC Smart Net-zero Energy Buildings strategic Research Network

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Recent SNEBRN Annual General Meeting

5th SNEBRN AGM
May 2, 2016
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario

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SNEBRN Newsletters

Welcome

SNEBRN was the major Canadian research effort in smart net-zero energy buildings during the period 2011-2017. It brought together 29 Canadian researchers from 15 universities to develop the smart net-zero energy homes and commercial buildings of the future.The Network also includes researchers and experts from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Hydro-Québec. Industrial partners from the energy and construction sectors were involved in most projects, developing the know-how that will help them compete in the global market.

Latest Update

CAE released the final roadmap report

The final Canadian Academy of Engineering Roadmap report has been completed and can be downloaded here.

This roadmap provides strategic recommendations for the energy transition of buildings toward net-zero operating emissions. The recommendations aim to decrease life-cycle costs, improve energy efficiency, and increase resilience.

The primary audience is Canadian government officials responsible for energy and building policy, standrds development and verification organizations, agencies delegated to implement legislation for buildings, and professional regulators and associations. The guidance is applicable to all Canadian jurisdictions.

The scope of the guidance applies to the construction of new buildings and the renewal of existing buildings, as well as distributed energy infrastructure and demand-side measures implemented by energy utilities. The focus is on buildings and connected on-site or neighbourhood clean energy systems. The roadmap aligns with provincial/territorial building and safety policy and energy-sector regulation of demand-side management programs thatinfluence the design and renewal of buildings and community clean energy infrastructure.

Vision

The vision of SNEBRN was to perform the research that will facilitate widespread adoption in key regions of Canada, by 2030, of optimized NZEB energy design and operation concepts suited to Canadian climatic conditions and construction practices. It aimed to influence long-term national policy on the design of net-zero energy buildings and communities in association with our partners.

This website is periodically updated with news related to the SNEBRN mandate, particularly in relation to policies.

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Governance

The NSERC Smart Net-zero Energy Buildings strategic Research Network (SNEBRN), funded for 2011-2016 under the strategic research networks program of NSERC, was based on a previous network: the NSERC Solar Buildings Research Network (SBRN), which completed its program at the end of 2010. Joining 18 researchers from SBRN were 11 new researchers in the new Network’s university team, making a total of 29 researchers from 15 Canadian universities taking part in the effort. In addition there were partners from government and industry.

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